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oil sands

Cultural  
  1. Surface deposits of tarry sand that contain large quantities of petroleum.


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The major deposits of oil sands in North America are in the western United States and northern Canada.

Extracting the oil from these sands is difficult and expensive.

Example Sentences

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Canada’s growth in May was for a second straight month led by oil and gas extraction, with increased activity in Alberta’s oil sands industry and in support activities for the energy sector.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 31, 2026

In a high oil price environment like the present, companies producing from oil sands stand to benefit more than their rivals.

From Barron's Mar. 24, 2026

The type of crude produced from oil sands matters too.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 16, 2026

As shipments from Mexico and Venezuela into the U.S. declined, refiners turned to Canada, which has ramped up heavy crude production from its oil sands.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 8, 2026

Dave sniffed the pleasing, pungent odor of the crude oil sands.

From Gunsight Pass How Oil Came to the Cattle Country and Brought a New West by William MacLeod Raine

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